Cooperative Living Northern Virginia Electric • June 2020 • Your Business

Until a few weeks ago, KO Distilling was a place to stop by, have a unique cocktail and learn all about the art of handcrafting fine spirits.

“Unique” still applies to the Manassas, Va.-based distillery, but for a different reason. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the featured menu item is alcohol-based hand sanitizer produced at a time when the solution has become an essential commodity.

The distillery is producing about 1,600 gallons a week in 5-gallon containers under the name Bare Knuckle Hand Sanitizer, a takeoff on its Bare Knuckle whiskey brand.

When the crisis surfaced, Bill Karlson, co-founder and CEO of KO Distilling, a member of Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative, closed the distillery, the tasting room and guided tours. The company’s 15 employees worked remotely.

Initially, Karlson envisioned the shutdown as a chance to upgrade the plant’s chill water-cooling system. But it quickly became apparent that KO could help in other ways, and the distillery started producing ethanol for sanitizer on April 9.

“When coming up with a name for our hand sanitizer, it was fitting for us to use Bare Knuckle. We are glad to be able to help the community fight the good fight during this coronavirus pandemic,” he says.

The change required some physical plant adjustments. Karlson and Ryan Hendricks, the head distiller, modified distilling processes and equipment to be able to produce the high-proof ethanol needed for top-grade sanitizer.

The biggest change came for some of the company’s sales representatives, who started working on the production side. “They’re making hand sanitizer, labeling buckets, so it’s been different for them. For the distilling team, it’s basically the same thing they’ve always been doing, which is making ethanol,” Karlson says.

Karlson is targeting donations and deliveries to first responders, hospitals, charitable organizations and nursing homes in the Prince William County area.

Additional quantities are being sold through government channels or to essential businesses to help cover production costs and support the continued employment of the distillery staff.

Eventually, Karlson hopes the 5-year-old business can return to its planned mission of fine spirits — it is one of only about 50 craft distilleries in Virginia. It’s still selling bottled spirits online in the state with curbside delivery or secure shipping.

But he anticipates making large quantities of hand sanitizer for about three to six months after the pandemic settles.

“The supply chain is going to take a while to adjust to the new normal,” he says.

For more information on the sanitizer for worthy organizations, visit kodistilling.com